A progressive independent commercial business, created by Act of Parliament. Our portfolio includes the whole of Regent Street and much of St James’s in London’s West End, prime regional shopping centres, Windsor Great Park, rural land and coastline, and the UK’s seabed.

Windsor Great Park reveal renovation plans to the Punch Bowl

5 December 2016

This afternoon John Anderson, Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park, welcomed members of the public to hear of planned renovation work to the Punch Bowl, part of The Valley Gardens, a favourite spot for many Windsor Great Park visitors. A small group of local regular visitors met Mr Anderson at 2pm at the Punch Bowl.

Mr Anderson revealed that plans for the renovation of the Punch Bowl would take approximately five to seven years to complete and would include removing the remaining Blue Fir trees, which are showing signs of decline and stress and replacing them with new ones. Secondly an area in front of the Blue Cedars will be planted with Kurume Azaleas to extend the Punch Bowl and opening a view towards the lake. Mr Anderson also explained that the current Azaleas would be left to flower this spring and then would be cut back in a phased programme. He added that in the next few years, there would be a programme of propagating Azaleas that will be planted in the Punch Bowl and an overhaul of the drainage system to ensure trees such as a prominent oak, which he pointed out to the public in attendance, would remain healthy.

Mr Anderson, who took up his position as Keeper of the Gardens earlier this year, said: “The work we are planning to carry out is about ensuring good horticultural practice. If we start tackling these problems now we can ensure we are keeping the Punch Bowl thriving and looking its best for generations to come as well as our current visitors who we know love walking their dogs here and enjoy the Azaleas and the trees.”

He continued “This afternoon was a good opportunity for me to speak to some of our regular visitors and ensure they are aware what our plans are and why we are doing them. We want visitors to be aware of the work taking place in Windsor Great Park and to be excited in seeing the end results.”

Rosemary Ussher, a Windsor resident who has been visiting the park for nearly 40 years and who attended today, said:

“It was fantastic to come down and hear what the plans are. I am particularly fond of this part of the Great Park. It’s a beautiful area and I like to bring friends and family here in Spring. I had in fact noticed some of the trees were not looking their best so it’s wonderful to hear that they will be replaced with new healthy ones.

“Gardening is an on-going process so it’s important to make these changes. I think it’s exciting to know what will be happening.”

The Blue Fir removal will be undertaken by Windsor Great Park’s in-house teams and will start in January.

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About The Crown Estate

The Crown Estate is a progressive independent commercial business, created by Act of Parliament. Our portfolio includes the whole of Regent Street and much of St James’s in London’s West End, prime regional shopping centres, Windsor Great Park, rural land and coastline, and the UK’s seabed. www.thecrownestate.co.uk